Mechanical ink pencil



p 9, 1947. J. C.IWAHL 2,427,033

MECHANICAL INK PENCIL- Filed Oct. 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I' I. j N

I I 1 I I i s I I 3 ts i r Q (E Lg) & Q I v 4\ I I m1 I & F i

Q Q Q 1 INVENTOR. Joimcwaizz,

J. C. WAHL MECHANICAL INK PENCIL Sept. 9, 1947.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11; 1944- INVEN TOR. Jahn C Wald Il /ll;

Sept. 9, 1947.

J. c. WAHL MECHANICAL INK PEN-GIL Filed Oct. 11, 1944 a Sheets-Sheet alliliu \Y vivid! .within the scope Patented Sept. 9,, 1947 T orr caMECHANICAL mx ranch. John C. Wahl,.Chicago, Ill., assignor to Eversharp,Inc., Chicago, Ill.,

ware

a corporation of Dela- ,Application October 11, 1944, Serial No. 558,144

4 Claims. (Cl. 120-42) The present invention relates to mechanical inkpencils of the type in which the ink used is of paste-like semi-fluidconsistency and is transferred to the sheet of, paper or other materialby a small ball which is rotatably mounted in the tip.

The principal purpose of the invention is to provide a writing implementof the type described having an ink reservoir of new and improvedconstruction.

In my copending application, serial No. 553,515, filed September 11,1944, I have disclosed and claimed a writing implement of the samegeneral character in which the reservoir for the ink consists of a longtortuously arranged capillary passage, which passage is connected at oneend with the tip containing the ball and is left open at the other end.

In the present disclosure the improved reservoir consists instead of aplurality of separate open-ended capillary passages, which passages areeach adapted to direct the ink held within the same forwardly to acommon outlet leading to the ball.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an ink reservoircontaining a plurality of separate open-ended capillary passages for theretention of the ink.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ink reservoir of thecapillary passage type in which the member containing the passages formsthe barrel proper of the writing implement.

Still other mor specific objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of theconstruction, arrangement and manner of use of the parts forming thewriting implement.

A few embodiments of the invention are presented herein for the purposeof exemplification, but it will of course be appreciated that theinvention is susceptible of incorporation in still other structurallymodified forms coming equally of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a writing implement constructed in accordancewith the invention, with the cap shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 2A is a longitudinal section through the front portion of thewriting implement;

Fig. 2B is the same section through the remainder of the writingimplement;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2A;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2A;

, action. The ink is fed to Fig. 5 isa transverse section taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 2B;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through a modified form of the reservoir;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section through a modified form of the tip;

Figs. 8A and 8B are views which correspond generally to Figs. 2A and 2Bbut show a modified barrel construction in which the capillary passagesare formed in a separate cartridge member; and a Fig. 9 is a side viewof the cartridge, including the end caps which are adapted to be appliedto the cartridge prior to its installation in the barrel.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1.120 5, inclusive,it will be, observed that the same includes primarily a head II], a tipII which contains an ink transferring ball I2, an ink reservoir I3 whichforms the barrel proper of the writing implement, and a cap I4 whichforms an enclosure for the rear end of the reservoir I3.

The head III is of forwardly tapering shape and contains alongitudinally extending bore I5 through which the ink passes inadvancing from the reservoir I3 to the tip I I. The tip I I is mountedin the front end of the head Ill and contains a longitudinally extendingbore I6 in register with a reduced continuation ll of the bore I5. Thebore I6, which is of quite small diameter, opens forwardly into thecenter of a small socket I 8 in which the ball is mounted. The socket I8opens forwardly, and the ball I2 is held in the same in a partiallyprojecting position by a fine inturned annular edge I 9. The ball I2 isrotatably mounted in the socket I8, between the annular edge I9 and anannular shoulder 20 present between the bottom of the socket and thefront end of the bore I6.

The ink used in the writing implement is preferably of a paste-likesemi-fluid consistency and is designed particularly for feeding bycapillary the rear surface of the Movement of the writball I2 in contactwith upon causes the ball to ball I2 from the bore I6. ing implementwith the the surface to be written rotate within the socket I8,transferring the ink from the ball onto such surface in a thin quickdrying film, much after the fashion of ofiset printing.

The head III is provided at its rear end with a rearwardly openingcircular recess which is screw-threaded at 2| for the reception of thefront end of the reservoir I3. The front end of the reservoir is reducedin diameter and is exteriorly screw-threaded at 22 for engagement 3within the head. The reservoir is a sin le rodlike member of generallycylindrical shape which constitutes the barrel proper or the writingimplement and is arranged with its outer surface substantially flushwith the outer surface of the rear end of the head ll.

The reservoir it contains a plurality of separate longitudinallyextending bores 23 which are arranged in more or less uniformly spacparallel relation to each other. These bores constitute capillarypassages in which the supply of ink is retained. All of the assages openat their front ends into a relatively large circular recess N, whichrecess is formed in the front end of the reservoir and opens forwardlyinto the bore I! present in the head II. All of the passages extendrearwardly through the rear end of the reservoir and are leit open.

The rear end of the reservoir I3 is reduced and exteriorly threaded at2! for the reception of the cap ll. The cap I4 is hollow and is cuppedforwardly with its bottom 28 in rearwardly spaced relation to the rearend of the reservoir. The rim of the cap H is interiorly screw-threadedat 21 for engagement with the rear end of the reservoir. If desired, thecan can be provided at some point with a minute atmospheric vent l4, butthe addition of such a vent is not necessay in view of the character ofthe connection between the rear end of the reservoir and the cap.

The writing implement is provided with a cap II for enclosing andprotecting the writing point. The cap 2| may be of any suitableconstruction. It is shown as provided with aninsert 29 which wedginglyseals at 30 against the head iii. The rim of the cap is provided with ascrew-threaded portion Ii which engages with screw threads 32 formed onthe outer surface of'the rear end of the head.

The reservoir It can be readily filled by removing the cap it andforcing the ink forwardly through all of the passages 23 in thereservoir until such passages, together with the recess 24 and the boresit, It and ii, have been completely iilled. The reservoir, if desired,can be removed from the head It when empty and replaced by another fullreservoir. The capacity or the passages 23 in the reservoir ispreferably such as to permit the writing implement to be used for a longperiod of time, say six months or a year,

before having to refill or replace the reservoir.

In Fig. 6 a modified reservoir I3 is shown in moved for the purpose ofreplacement, cleaning 65 1,179,086

or repair.

9 the writing implement is provided with a separate readily applicablecartridge it in which the open-ended capillary tubes 3' are formed. Thecartridge llfltsintoasurroundlngbarreil'lwhich is threaded onto the headii. The ends of the cartridge 3' are adapted to he slid oi! prior toinsertion in the barrel by screw threaded end caps I! and II.

I claim:

1. In a writing implement for use with paste type ink, a tip having alongitudinally extending bore,abailrotatablymountedinthetipatthe frontend of the bore. and a reservoir for the ink characterized by aplurality of separate capillary passages, eachot whichis openatoneendtothe atmosphere and is connected at its other end with saidbore, said passages being distributed throughout the cross-sectionalarea of the reservailr in spaced generally parallel relation to each 0er.

2. In a writing implement for use with paste type ink. a tip having alongitudinally extending bore, a ball rotatably mounted in the tip atthe front end of the bore, and a reservoir for the ink characterized bya plurality of separate capillary passages, each of which is open at oneend to the atmosphere and is connected at its other end with a commonoutlet opening into said bore, said passages being distributedthroughout the cross-sectional area of the reservoir in spaced generallyparallel relation to each other.

3. In a writing implement for use with paste type ink, a tip having alongitudinally extending bore, a ball rotatably mounted in the tip atthe front end of the bore, and a reservoir for the ink characterized bya plurality of separate capillary passages, each of which is open at oneend to the atmosphere and is connected at its other end with a commonoutlet opening into said bore, said reservoir being elongated, and saidpassages bein arranged lengthwise of the reservoir in spaced generallyparallel relation to each other.

4. In a writing implement for use with paste type ink, a tip having alongitudinally extending JOHN C. WAHL.

ngrmmvcss crrim The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,327,729 Paschal Jan. 13, 1920Foster Apr. 11, 1916 1,493,680 Koepsell May 13, 1924 1,527,971 ForsellMar. 3, 1925

